Did you know that October is National Audiology Awareness Month? Promoted by the American Academy of Audiology and hearing healthcare professionals around the country, this month is dedicated to YOU and your hearing health.
What is audiology?
Before we get into healthy hearing tips and ways you can protect your own hearing, let’s start with the basics. That includes explaining what ‘audiology’ is and how it impacts your life.
Perhaps the simplest definition of the term ‘audiology’ is this – the branch of medicine that studies hearing, balance, and the common disorders related to these two elements. Similarly, the term ‘audiologist’ is the term used to describe the healthcare professional who specializes in the diagnosis, management, treatment, or prevention of hearing and balance disorders.
Are hearing health problems common in the United States?
Sadly, the answer to this question is a resounding ‘yes’. According to data compiled by the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 15.5% of American adults aged 18 or older report having some difficulty hearing. This percentage equates to almost 29 million people who could benefit from hearing loss treatment, including the use of hearing aids or other assistive listening devices.
Why is Audiology Awareness Month important?
While hearing loss is often a byproduct of the aging process, the number of people in younger generations who report hearing difficulties continues to increase. This means that more work needs to be done to educate the public about hearing health risk factors and hearing protection methods.
Audiology Awareness Month is just one way that we as hearing health professionals can:
- Recognize the people who are affected by hearing loss
- Encourage comprehensive hearing loss treatment
- Educate the public about what it’s like to live with less than perfect hearing
- Teach people how to protect their hearing
- Promote healthy hearing management tips
- Encourage hearing loss prevention measures
- Educate individuals about the connection between other health conditions and hearing loss
- Promote acceptance of people with hearing impairments
Healthy hearing tips to celebrate Audiology Awareness Month
It’s important to understand that there are many causes of hearing loss. Some, such as old age or genetic conditions, cannot be prevented. Others, like noise-induced hearing loss, are completely preventable. The key is to shift the focus from what you have no control over to what you CAN do to protect your hearing health.
Take a look at these healthy hearing tips you can put into practice today so you can enjoy healthy hearing for as long as possible:
1. Wear appropriate hearing protection.
Repeated or prolonged exposure to noises above 85 dB can cause permanent hearing loss. If you can’t control or avoid loud noise exposure, wear earplugs or other hearing protection to prevent hearing damage.
2. Listen to music responsibly.
This includes turning down the volume on the radio, TV, or other device to a safe level. You can also choose to wear headphones instead of earbuds to increase the distance between the sound source and your ears.
3. Say NO to Q-tips.
Save Q-tips and cotton swabs for arts and crafts projects – they don’t belong in your ears! Instead, let your ears eliminate earwax naturally. Or, if you’re one of those overachievers in terms of earwax production, schedule an appointment for professional earwax removal with your local audiologist. It’s safe, effective, and will remove an earwax buildup without causing hearing damage.
4. Pay attention to what medications you take.
Did you know that some medications are ototoxic and have hearing loss as a known side effect? If your doctor prescribes an ototoxic medication, ask if there’s an alternative that would be better for your hearing health.
5. Exercise regularly and practice healthy eating habits.
These two things go hand in hand to promote good blood flow and help you manage a healthy weight. Since hearing loss has been linked to other health conditions like diabetes, obesity, and heart disease, do what you can to limit your risk factors.
6. Schedule routine visits with a hearing health professional.
By following the tips we already mentioned, you can increase your chances of preventing hearing loss. It’s important to realize, though, that not all hearing loss cases can be avoided. When you have routine hearing tests or other checkups with a hearing health professional, any hearing changes that do occur will be noted. Sometimes, hearing loss is temporary or reversible. Other times, it’s permanent. In either case, hearing loss can be managed more effectively when it’s detected and treated early.
Celebrate Audiology Awareness Month with your local Mesa and Scottsdale audiologists!
At Advanced Hearing Group, we have audiologists that are here for you during Audiology Awareness Month and all year long. Our goal is to help everyone enjoy the gift of hearing, whether that’s maintaining healthy hearing or treating hearing loss that has already occurred.
Take charge of your own hearing health today by scheduling a visit at our Mesa or Scottsdale offices. We offer a wide variety of services including hearing tests, professional earwax removal, customized hearing protection, hearing aids, and more. Let US help YOU hear well and live well.
